Dear friends,

Luke’s version of the first Pentecost is the biblical account that has most captured the Christian imagination. Fifty days after Easter, the disciples of Jesus gather for prayer in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit comes upon them in dramatic fashion, with a strong wind and “tongues of fire.” They begin to speak in different languages, and miraculously their proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is heard and understood by Jewish pilgrims from different countries with different native languages.

T he word “Pentecost” derives from the Greek word for “fifty.” It marks 50 days after Easter on the Christian calendar it commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ disciples gathered in Jerusalem after his ascension.

The miracle of the first Pentecost reverses the episode of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. In that story, in response to human arrogance, God “confused” the languages of humankind and scattered them over the face of the earth.

Now the Church, scattered all over the world speaks the same language, holds the same beliefs, celebrates the same sacraments.

Pentecost was, and still is a Jewish festival celebrated in late spring and it is associated with the “gift of the Law” to Moses on Mount Sinai.

In the Christian tradition, Pentecost is connected with the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Christian community. The Holy Spirit replaces the old Law becoming the "rule of life" for Christians.

Pentecost continues in the Church and in our heart in the stirrings and the prompts to do good and to live upright lives. These experiences are a sort of prolongation and actualization of the first Pentecost we celebrate today.

Christians generally fail to be aware that today's Pentecost is only the first of the three descents of the Holy Spirit on the church:

• This first one is called traditionally "the Pentecost of the Jews" Acts2:1-12.
• The second is called "The Pentecost of the Gentiles" when the Holy Spirit descends with power on Cornelius and his household, even before Baptism, opening the church to the Gentiles and making her the Catholic Church we know of and not one of the many Jewish sects Acts 10:1-49.
• The third one is "The Pentecost of the persecuted Church" described in Acts 4:29-31 when the apostles, beaten and incarcerated by the Jews are strengthened with and outpouring of the Spirit.

+ Month of May, month of Mary:

We are at the beginning of May when Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother acts of homage and veneration.

+ Mother’s day

Today's celebration of Mother's Day represents a wonderful occasion to remember our mothers who gave us life and thought us how to pray. It is also an occasion to pray for the Church, our mother in the faith. We recall the words of Scriptures: "Does a mother forget her child at her breast? Even so, I will never forget you", and again “As a mother comforts her child, so I'll comfort you" says the Lord. Best wishes to all the mothers at St. Therese: you are in our hearts and in our prayers!